The School-on-the-air (SoA) on Basic Beekeeping, a collaborative program of the Office of Extension Services (OES) and Cordillera Regional Apiculture Center (CRAC), held its culminating ceremony on May 24, 2024, at the Everlasting Hall, Research and Extension Building, Betag, La Trinidad, Benguet.

The SoA on Beekeeping ran from February 8, 2024, to May 24, 2024. Every weekday, from 5:45 AM to 6:00 AM, the enrollees tuned in to DZWT radio, listening to 15-minute broadcasts of the BSU-on-the-Air. The SoA course on Basic Beekeeping was developed, creating seven lessons, with each lesson succeeding with a quiz that enrollees answer through text or messenger.
During the Culminating Ceremony on May 24, 2024, OES Director Anna Cris Langaoan presented the 149 graduates, followed by the confirmation of graduates by the Vice President for Research and Extension (VPRE) Roscinto Ian Lumbres, filling on behalf of the University President.

VPRE Roscinto Ian Lumbres, in his message, challenged the graduates to pass on the knowledge they have learned, as he stated “…tayo pa ang mageextend nito sa iba pang mas nangangailangan.” Lumbres also recalled a story in Calamba, Laguna, wherein women trained in mushroom production now train other people, emphasizing the importance of extending knowledge to the communities.

Lumbres also challenged CRAC Director Kenneth Laruan to conduct an impact study assessing good practices, the areas for improvement, and the continuity of beekeeping in graduates.
During the program, the graduates also got the chance to express their gratitude to the Subject Matter Specialists (SMS) along with a short question and answer portion, with the SMS entertaining further questions from the graduates.

CRAC Director Kenneth Laruan also aligned his message with the May 20, 2024, World Bee Day theme “Bee Engaged with the Youth,” with a call for action to the youth graduates saying, “Mabalin nga dakayu diay kadwa mi nga agadvocate to conserve our bees, simply because I know, you know the importance of the bees.”

Other subject matter specialists, namely Leo Kimbungan, Tristan Apiles, and Hanter Paul Bangitao, also took turns delivering a message to the graduates.
Certificates of recognition, completion participation, and tokens were awarded to the graduates, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the region’s beekeeping industry.//